Zabrasive Favourite for AJC Derby after Rosehill Guineas Win

John O’Shea’s promising stayer Zabrasive made the most of his favourable draw and proved he had distance and determination in his blood on Saturday when he won the $500, 000 Group 1 Darley Rosehill Guineas (2000m).

Zabrasive and eventual runner-up, Australian Crown Guineas winner Rock Classic, gave the crowds an intense and thrilling finish in the 2010 Rosehill Guineas as the pair battled for the Group 1 win over the final 200m.

After a gallant charge and brief lead by Rock Classic, it was Zabrasive ($6) who came away with the narrow win by just a nose ahead of the Bart Cummings-trained Rock Classic ($3.70) with John Thompson’s filly Run For Naara ($11) two lengths away for third.

Zabrasive, a winner of three of his six career starts, will now move on to the coveted $1.3million AJC Australian Derby in a fortnight at Randwick, for which he is currently the odds-on favourite for.

Randwick racecourse was host to a range of other excellent events on Saturday including the $150, 000 Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes where the Gai Waterhouse-trained Brightexpectations claimed victory, and the $150, 000 Group 2 Magic Night Stakeswon by Peter Moody’s improving filly Willow Creek.

The other Group status races run at the meeting were the $150, 000 Group 2 Ajax Stakes where Brilliant Light claimed victory and the $125, 000 Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes won by Triscay Stakes winner Patronyme.